Heroes & Villains

The characters that built comics — ranked by how often they show up. Tap any one for their first appearance, key issues, and full history.

Spider-Man 5,072 appearances Archie Andrews 4,056 appearances Veronica Lodge 3,703 appearances Betty Cooper 3,692 appearances Wolverine 3,533 appearances Batman 3,494 appearances Jughead Jones 3,456 appearances Captain America 3,440 appearances Superman 3,121 appearances Iron Man 3,018 appearances Thor 2,699 appearances Hulk 2,302 appearances Human Torch 2,121 appearances The Thing 2,109 appearances Cyclops 2,102 appearances Storm 1,978 appearances Hank McCoy 1,874 appearances Dick Grayson 1,803 appearances Li'l Jinx 1,793 appearances Susan Storm Richards 1,741 appearances Wonder Woman 1,522 appearances Jean Grey 1,504 appearances Bobby Drake 1,411 appearances Dilton Doiley 1,407 appearances Daredevil 1,386 appearances Mister Fantastic 1,385 appearances Clint Barton 1,369 appearances Charles Xavier 1,356 appearances Colossus 1,352 appearances Hiram Lodge 1,299 appearances Warren Worthington III 1,292 appearances Wanda Maximoff 1,272 appearances Kurt Wagner 1,251 appearances Midge Klump 1,241 appearances Namor 1,231 appearances Doctor Strange 1,215 appearances Mr. Weatherbee 1,190 appearances Carol Danvers 1,148 appearances Wasp 1,146 appearances Rogue 1,112 appearances Invisible Woman 1,110 appearances Hank Pym 1,102 appearances Victor Von Doom 1,097 appearances Black Panther 1,091 appearances Onkel Skrue 1,080 appearances Lois Lane 1,062 appearances Kitty Pryde 1,058 appearances Vision 1,056 appearances J. Jonah Jameson 997 appearances Jennifer Walters 975 appearances Magneto 955 appearances Black Widow 929 appearances Hal Jordan 893 appearances Deadpool 853 appearances Green Lantern 827 appearances Alfred Pennyworth 823 appearances Mary Jane Watson 813 appearances Wally West 811 appearances Luke Cage 803 appearances Norman Osborn 801 appearances Chuck Clayton 799 appearances Barbara Gordon 779 appearances Emma Frost 773 appearances Oliver Queen 749 appearances Sabrina Spellman 749 appearances Tim Drake 734 appearances Gambit 726 appearances Sam Wilson 724 appearances Nightwing 718 appearances Silver Surfer 716 appearances Barry Allen 705 appearances Nick Fury 698 appearances Frank Castle 676 appearances Quicksilver 675 appearances Peter Parker 669 appearances Uncle Sam 665 appearances Arthur Curry 649 appearances Otto Octavius 645 appearances Jimmy Olsen 641 appearances Rollo 640 appearances Betsy Braddock 639 appearances Denny Colt 633 appearances Nathan Summers 619 appearances Simon Williams 611 appearances Jessica Drew 609 appearances Loki 601 appearances Donald Duck 600 appearances Wilson Fisk 594 appearances Gwen Stacy 590 appearances Illyana Rasputina 588 appearances Sam Guthrie 584 appearances Alex Summers 580 appearances Danny Rand 570 appearances J'Onn J'Onzz 568 appearances Robin 558 appearances Joker 556 appearances Miles Morales 554 appearances Lex Luthor 551 appearances Flash Thompson 551 appearances Perry White 544 appearances Eddie Brock 536 appearances Selina Kyle 528 appearances Rick Jones 527 appearances Billy Batson 500 appearances Captain Marvel 498 appearances Commissioner James Gordon 498 appearances Victor Creed 489 appearances Victor Stone 489 appearances Franklin Richards 480 appearances Donna Troy 470 appearances Anakin Skywalker 465 appearances Edwin Jarvis 456 appearances Jubilation Lee 454 appearances Raven Darkhölme 441 appearances Brian Braddock 441 appearances Cain Marko 435 appearances Starfire 432 appearances Odin 431 appearances Moon Knight 431 appearances Luke Skywalker 429 appearances